Come to River Bend Club on Tuesday, June 21 to hear Blane Ampthor discuss The Atlantic Speed Race.
"The advent of steam ships in the mid-1800s meant faster, safer and more reliably scheduled Atlantic crossings for passengers and cargo. Soon a competition developed among the industrial powers (the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy) to build grand ocean liners that would appeal to rich passengers both in terms of their luxury and their speed. Soon, an award, the Blue Riband, was established to be given to the ship that made the fastest transit. The speed record was a matter of international prestige and governments subsidized the construction of ships designed to win the award. The last ship to hold the Blue Riband was SS United States which made the crossing in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes in 1952."